RECAPS:

Chapter 1: Lady Catherine convinced Bingley to have Anne as Netherfield's Mistress. Lizzy and Darcy met at Hyde Park. Darcy was intrigued by her fine eyes. Colonel Fitzwilliam teased him about it. We also found out that Grandma Claire Bennet dedicated her Last Will to Lizzy.

Chapter 2: Aunt Gardiner let Lizzy visit the Gardiner Warehouse and left her alone where she encounters Darcy again. They talked, not knowing each other's name. There was also a brief background about Lizzy being close to Mary and Kitty and not so much with Jane and Lydia.

Chapter 3: We met Alexa, Lizzy's Abigail who ships Darcy with Lizzy. Our favorite couple met again and conversed with each other, still not knowing who the other was. Darcy (intentionally) forgot about the real reason he came to the Gardiner Warehouse which was running an errand for the Colonel.

Chapter 4: Three weeks had passed since Lizzy and Darcy's first encounter at the Gardiner Warehouse. Mama Darcy was introduced and she suspected that her son was finally interested in someone other than work. Lizzy could not sleep and ended up deciding that she would reveal her identity to Darcy the next time they meet.

Chapter 5: The Netherfield party (Bingleys, Hursts, de Bourghs, Mr. Collins, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy) are on their way to Hertfordshire. The Colonel was in a grumpy mood because Anne would be acting as Netherfield's Mistress but Darcy is even grumpier. We also found out that Darcy and Lizzy's last meeting did not go well - he accused her of lying to him and she got mad in return.

Chapter 6: Background about our Lizzy's childhood: Used by Mr. Bennet, abused by Mrs. Bennet and accused of almost every bad things that happened in the family. She was close with Mary, Kitty and the Lucases as well as her abigail, Alexa. Darcy was also revealed to be a Marquess.

Chapter 7: Darcy insults her at the Assembly, Mrs. Bennet making a scene and Anne scolding her cousin.

Chapter 8: Mary and Kitty gave Darcy a taste of his own medicine. Lizzy unintentionally cut him. Richard and Darcy had a talk over brandy. And the Lucases punished Mrs. Bennet by taking away her pin money.

Chapter 9: Alexa suspects something bad happened at the assembly. A glimpse of how Lizzy helped the tenants at Longbourn. New footmen and Mrs. Winters appearance. Background on how Lizzy wishes she was not a real Bennet. Lizzy, Mary and Kitty moment. Mrs. Hill tells them they have some visitors.

Chapter 10: Anne's perspective on marrying Col. Richard Fitzwilliam. A brief look on what's going on inside Fanny Bennet's head. Darcy realising his mistakes and a failed attempt on apologising.

And staring at those green eyes right now, Darcy knew he would try and do just that. "Miss Elizabeth," he began once again. However, before he could start begging for forgiveness, she turned and ran away from him.


The first thing she noticed was his clenched fists on his sides; then, the gritting of his teeth. It was not long before he was staring sternly at her. He was mad, she could tell. And so, when he said her name, Elizabeth Bennet ran away from the Marquess. She knew what would come next. Lizzy had seen those physical reactions before.

She was fourteen when she had questioned her father why he had let Mama overspent when the estate had not reach the quota for harvest that year. She had been so mad at Papa that time. Alexa had been sick along with some of the tenants due to the terrible weather and instead of using the barely extra monies to help them, Papa had let Mama spent it on ribbons and bonnets!

His stance had been the same as Lord Ashbourne's – rigid with hands curled into a fist turning almost white. The only difference between their expressions was that the Marquess had his eyes closed while Papa was staring hard at her.

Then before she knew it, Papa's right palm had collided on her cheek. Tears had left her eyes before she could process that she had been hurt. When her face had become sore the next day, Mrs. Winters had brought her immediately to the Gardiners and Alexa had travelled with them despite not being fully recovered. If Uncle Edward had not been targeted by a business partner of an earl about six months later, Lizzy was sure that she they wouldn't have sent her back to Longbourn.

Alas, for the sake of them all she had to go back. Of course, her Aunt and Uncle made sure that she wouldn't get treated so terribly again. Lizzy did not know how but somehow, Grandma Claire's Will seemed to solve almost all of her familial problems. How her grandmother predicted the possibilities of the future was unknown to Lizzy but she was thankful nonetheless. If her Aunt and Uncle's words with Mr. Bennet were not enough, the Lucases and Alexa made sure it never occurred again.

Papa's 'outrage' had only happened once and it might not have any evidence marked on her person anymore but the memory of it was so vivid that Lizzy felt she was reliving the incident again when she noticed the Marquess' stance.

Lizzy would always say that her courage rises at every attempt to intimidate her but she knew she was not that strong. The Marquess was more than a head taller than her. He would have the upper hand if he ever did try to hit her. She could scream and try to gain the attention of the others. Surely, if she screamed loud enough they would hear her even if they were far ahead. Still, what if Lord Ashbourne managed to hit her first?

I made the right decision to run away from him, she decided. Composing herself, she hurried her pace to reach the Dower House.

Alexa greeted her by the door. "Miss Lizzy, I heard from Archie that Mrs. Hill called you to Longbourn. He said Mrs. Hill mentioned something about visitors. Who were the –" her Abigail's words stopped and a hand was immediately holding her arm. "Are you unwell? You look pale, Miss Lizzy."

Elizabeth smiled weakly at Alexa. "A sudden headache… perhaps I've exerted myself too much today." Lizzy knew that Alexa was not buying her excuse but she appreciated that her friend remained silent. "Could you please tell my sisters and the visitors my reason for leaving as well as my apologies?"

"Of course, Miss Lizzy." With a bow, Alexa departed.

Lizzy felt guilty lying to them but fear was eating her slowly that all she could focus on was getting away. She was, however, a little worried for Mary and Kitty but seeing as Charlotte and Miss de Bourgh were with them, she felt confident at leaving them.

Besides, Lord Ashbourne had no reason to harm her sisters. It was she whom he was mad at. Perhaps, he was still mad at her for 'lying' back in London and she had made him angrier by befriending his cousin. He wanted nothing to do with her and maybe he thought that she was in Hertfordshire by design; that she was planning to get close to his cousin and gain connections.

She remembered the time when he was the one who would comfort her when she was upset and not the one who would upset her.

"Are you unwell?" He had asked her with a frown, his brows furrowed.

"No," she had answered, hastily wiping the few tears that escaped her eyes.

He had then sat down on the settee beside her. "Then, why are you crying?" Before she could answer him, a handkerchief had been placed on her hands.

She dabbed his handkerchief to her eyes before answering. "You see, Sir, I've no idea that I would be seeing you today so I busied myself with reading." She had explained, glancing down to the opened book on her lap.

"Is it a book of poetry, then? Had the slight, thin short of inclination implied in its words brought you to tears of frustration?"

She had smiled at his use of words, a reference to their first meeting in the Gardiner Warehouse. Shaking her head, she'd answered, "No, it is not a book of poetry."

"If that is the case then perhaps your tears had nothing to do with the book." She had raised her brow at him when she had noticed a playful gleam in his eyes. "Perhaps, it was my absence that brought you to tears and you were only using your reading material as a cover for the truth."

Not expecting his words, she had laughed. "How bold of you to assume such things!"

"Thank you, my sister did say that I am fearless."

She had given him a smile for that. He was always so serious and he rarely teased but when he did, it was to elicit a smile or a laugh from her.

"Now," he had said after some time of silence, his face serious once again. "What is it that really upset you?"

"As I was saying before, it was the book I was reading. However, it seems that I need to be more particular about it. Very well, I shall start to elaborate." She picked up the book on her lap and closed it before handing it to him so he could see the title.

"Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady [1]," he had read aloud before throwing her a confused glance.

"She had lived a hard life you know, Clarissa Harlowe, the main character. You see, her siblings resented her because their grandfather left a piece of his land to Clarissa. Then, they were also convincing her to marry a Roger Solmes. Clarissa did not like him." He had no idea how much she could relate to Clarissa's situation.

Like Clarissa, Lizzy had a grandparent who passed almost everything in her possession to her, leaving very little for her sisters and parents. Perhaps it was another reason why most of her family despised her. Reading the novel had made Lizzy fear for the future. What if Mr. Collins, the one who was supposed to inherit Longbourn after Mr. Bennet's passing, came to visit Hertfordshire? What if Mama forced her to wed him?

"That is unfortunate." He had said after she had explained the plot further. Then, probably sensing how much she empathised with Clarissa, he had taken her hands in his, his deep blue eyes looking straight at her. "Well, madam, if you are afraid of something like that happening to you then you need not worry for I am here."

She had smiled softly at him. He had no idea that his words meant so much to her. "Will you help me, then? Will you take me away from my family who hated me and help me escape from an unwanted marriage?"

"No," his answer had hurt her and it had her turning away from him. It was the second time his words had hurt her, the first one was when he agreed to the statement that she was not a lady. However, his hand had taken hold of her chin and urged her to face him once again. "My answer is no. For how could anyone, let alone your family, hate you? Even I, who do not even know your name, could not think I'll of you so it is only impossible for the people who knew you better to hate you."

He had said the words so tenderly that she almost believed him. Perhaps she had frowned that time, after recalling how her family, indeed, loathed her, proving his claims untrue because he had been quick to reassure her. "But, if that ever happened to you, know that I would be there to help you."

"Thank you." She had whispered softly. After that, they had both realised that he was still holding her chin and they had been sitting a little too close. From the corner of her eye, Lizzy had seen Alexa watching them with a smile on her face. As if they had a mutual agreement, the two of them moved on their farthest side of the settee.

After a while she had turned to him and said, "Was that your way of asking me to tell you my name?"

"No, but if it convinced you to finally tell me who you are, then who am I to deny the knowledge you are about to bestow?"

"Very well, I might just grant your wish before I leave London."

"I will be counting on that, fair lady."

A part of her felt sad at the faraway memory of the, then, unnamed gentleman she had met in London. How had their budding friendship turned into something like this? Was her first impression of him wrong? Was he really the intelligent and kind man she had first thought him to be or was he the arrogant and prideful man she had seen in their recent encounters?

Mrs. Winters brought her out of her thoughts. "Here's some hot chocolate, Lizzy. Drink it while it's hot."

"Thank you, Mrs. Winters." She might not always tell Mrs. Winters everything but the older woman seemed to have a strange way of knowing if something was amiss.

"What are you waiting for? Are you going to eat the cookies Cook prepared or am I going to leave you here while I visit your Grandma Claire?"

This time, Lizzy thanked Mrs. Winters with a wholehearted smile. Yes, a visit to Grandma Claire's grave could be what she needed.

-p&p-

A week had passed after Darcy's attempt to apologise before he got the chance to meet Miss Elizabeth Bennet once again. Unlike his cousins, Richard and Anne, who had spent the last couple of days being exceptionally sweet to each other, Darcy spent it alone in turmoil.

First, he had come to the realisation that what he felt for Elizabeth Bennet was beyond attraction. After alternating between staying in his chambers alone and riding Boreas in the morning, he was finally able to name the strange feelings he had for her… love.

He had denied it at first, persuading himself that he was only infatuated or guilty at their last few encounters. But every time his mind went back to her hurt expression – glassy eyes and trembling lips yet still facing the crowd bravely – he couldn't find it in himself to flee. No, Darcy couldn't bear leaving her.

Not when he had seen the way her mother treated her in public. If that's how far Mrs. Bennet could go in a public setting the how did she treat Elizabeth in private? He wouldn't leave her. Not when she probably thought the worse of him. All he wanted, at the very least, was for her to think of him as she had before – a loyal and true companion.

He couldn't name when he had started falling in love with her. Was it on their first meeting that day in the rain? Their first encounter at the Gardiner Warehouse? When he realised his wrong accusations and how much he missed her when she had left London? Seeing her again at the Assembly? One thing he was certain was that he loved her. He was in the middle before he realised he had begun.

And seeing her play so beautifully on the pianoforte only confirmed his feelings. At first he was irritated at Miss Lucas for taking away Elizabeth from him. He was about to approach her, to try and apologise once again when Miss Lucas had led Elizabeth to the pianoforte and asked her to play.

However, as soon as her fingers glided on the first few keys, his irritation evaporated slowly. It went all forgotten when he heard her voice. It's as if he was brought back to that day in the rain when he had first heard her sing. How could anyone remain in a foul mood when she played so enchantingly? He could feel the melancholy in her notes, the hope in her voice and the determination in her eyes.

Unconsciously, he found himself walking to one of the pillars where he could hide himself from unwanted company and at the same time admire Elizabeth as she performed. It was only when Elizabeth had left the pianoforte and gave way to her sister, Miss Mary, that Darcy dared approach her once again.

Fortunately for him, Sir William Lucas seemed eager to introduce him to Elizabeth. "Ah, Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Lord Ashbourne, allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I'm sure, when so much beauty is before you."

"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. Please don't suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."

Darcy felt bad that Elizabeth looked like a deer caught by hunters but he was desperate to talk to her. "I would be very happy if you would do me the honour of dancing with me, Miss Elizabeth. However, if you are not inclined to dance then perhaps I could accompany you to get some punch."

"A drink would be preferable, thank you." With that, he escorted Elizabeth to the punch table. If he was dismayed that she barely leaned on his arm, Darcy did not show it. He could work on making her comfortable with him in time. As of now, he was only thankful that he had a chance to talk to her.

When Lord Ashbourne and Miss Elizabeth Bennet left Sir William, Lady Lucas approached her husband. "What could you possibly think of introducing Lord Ashbourne to Eliza, husband? You knew that he insulted her at the Assembly last time."

John Lucas, who saw his father's actions, walked towards his parents just in time to join their conversation. He may not be present at the annual assembly due to some estate matters, but his mother and sisters kept him updated on everything that's happened, particularly to their honorary family member, Eliza. "Indeed, father. Do you not see how uneasy she was when she saw him entered the room earlier?"

"Of course I remember Lord Ashbourne's remarks and I saw Eliza's reaction earlier. However, I also saw the Marquess watched our Eliza with interest. I daresay he is apologising for his misdoings right now." At this, the three of them looked over to where their subjects of conversation were standing.

Lord Ashbourne handed Miss Eliza a drink and while the latter did accept it, it was obvious to anyone looking at them that she was avoiding his gaze.

"Trying to apologise, at least." Sir William remedied with an amused smile.

"Do not tell me you are playing matchmaker, husband!"

"Do not sound so appalled, Sharon. I only wanted what's best for Eliza."

Lady Lucas harrumphed at this. "And you think that what's best for her was a man who insulted her in public?"

"At this, I think Papa has a point Mama." John Lucas interrupted his mother's thoughts, pointing at the Marquess' disappointed expression when Miss Eliza left him standing in a corner in favour of accompanying Charlotte.

"I still do not see it. But if he proves himself worthy of Eliza then I would be glad to help. Lord knows how much Eliza needed to leave the Bennets, save for Mary and Kitty."

"Speaking of Miss Mary, I think it is time for me to claim the dances I was supposed to have with her during the Assembly." With that, John Lucas left his amused parents behind.


[1] Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady is an epistolary novel by English writer Samuel Richardson, published in 1748. It tells the tragic story of a young woman, Clarissa Harlowe, whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family. The Harlowes are a recently wealthy family whose preoccupation with increasing their standing in society leads to obsessive control of their daughter, Clarissa, who ultimately dies as a result. It is considered one of the longest novels in the English language (based on estimated word count). It is generally regarded as Richardson's masterpiece.


So, to make up for the last chapter which was short, this chapter was longer. What do you guys think?

For those of you who are reading my other story "Proving Him Wrong" I'm sorry to say that there would be no update today. Our Thesis defense is within this week so school's been busy.

Anyways, thank you for reading and have a great day!